There has been a mixed response to the odd-even formula after a week, with a section of Delhiites of the view that the government should come out with a revised plan to bring down air pollution.
ISOMES communication college dean Prabhat Shunglu said that people were following the rule, which clearly shows that they have become “pollution conscious”, but the government should come up with a revised version of the scheme to fill up loopholes.
“The odd-even scheme was introduced primarily to reduce vehicular pollution. Bikes cause pollution as well. Why exempt them ” he asked.
The Delhi high court had on Wednesday asked the government whether it could discontinue the scheme from Friday and directed it to file a status report with data on pollution levels in different parts of the city on the next date of hearing.
According to lawyer Meera Bhatia, who came out in full support of the scheme, it was too early to judge the scheme as a week’s time was too less to ascertain the performance of such a measure.
“I am completely for the scheme. People are also abiding by it. And pollution has definitely reduced,” Ms Bhatia said. Asked if women should be removed from the exempted list, she said it was a matter of safety for women hence they need exemption.
Delhi Technological University student Lubdhak Chatterjee said the drive has not only helped bring down pollution, it has also rationalised vehicular movement in the city. The government, on its part, had roped in hundreds of private buses to ferry commuters. “It took me less time to reach my institute. Just because lakhs of cars were off the road.”
Mr Chatterjee said that the government should also exempt senior citizens, adding that two weeks was very little time and the experiment should be extended to at least three months to get the correct feedback.
JNU student Anshul Trivedi said that not only public transport needs to be upgraded, but there is also an urgent need to provide effective last-mile connectivity all across the city. “This season was conducive for carrying out such a drive. But what about summers ” he asked.
